Punching For Paychecks

I stood tall in front of the class. Confident, with my chest held high. At least thirty pairs of eyes rested upon me, awaiting instructions. I spoke loudly, with a deep authoritative voice.

“Step and punch on my count! Understand?”

“YES SIR!” The students replied in response to my command.

Being a skilled martial arts instructor, I have earned the respect of those that I teach. I make a decent wage doing what I love, which is more than most can say about their own jobs. 

It is often said that if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life, a phrase that I take to heart; however, I had to overcome many obstacles to get where I am. My grit and determination were often tested. The path was challenging, but the thing about me – is I never shy away from a challenge

The Origins of a Warrior

I was raised watching martial arts movies. My mother, another martial arts enthusiast, showed me films like The Karate Kid, Drunken Master, and Enter the Dragon. These films sparked my interest in the art of fighting and my obsession with ninjas. I dreamed of being capable of taking on hundreds of men in hand-to-hand combat, like a scene straight out of a movie. 

My mother, having seen my interest in martial arts, enrolled me into my first karate class at the age of six along with my older brother. It did not take long for both of us to notice we had a knack for martial arts. We were both quick learners and together we quickly moved up in rank, surpassing many of our peers.

As we moved up in rank, the classes became more physically demanding. I had always been overweight as a boy and was diagnosed with asthma, which heavily stunted my martial arts progress. 

On top of that, I found that I was terrible at fighting, the thing I wanted so desperately to be great at. I was skilled at learning individual techniques, yet attempting to apply them in live sparring was a struggle.

I recall coming home each night sore, battered, and bruised. Nevertheless, my determination never wavered. 

In my free time, I would work out. Endlessly I did push-ups, sit-ups, cardio, and whatever else I could do to reshape my body. In time, I lost weight, looked more athletic, felt stronger, and no longer had to use my inhaler.

I also significantly improved my hand-to-hand combat ability. I fought countless sparring rounds, aiming to become a better martial artist. Every time I got beat up, I learned and came back better.

Now, I stand as one of the best fighters in the entire dojo.

Obstacle Turned Opportunity

My mother back then, was working multiple jobs to keep a roof over our heads, food on our plates, and me and my brother in karate. 

Since my mother was constantly working, we often spent most of our time at the dojo. We would stay for many hours, practicing and honing our skills. We spent so much time there that it became almost like a second home.

Due to the number of hours we dedicated to martial arts, my brother and I thought it only right we become teaching assistants at the karate school. Being a teaching assistant was a volunteer position. Regardless of the fact that we didn’t get paid, I was thrilled to have the opportunity. 

As teaching assistants, it was our job to help the paid martial arts instructors. I took pride in this work and always put in 110% towards improving the training environment. My Sensei had named me assistant of the year for three years in a row.

My martial arts journey was at an all-time high. I regularly placed first in local karate tournaments, I frequently assisted teaching, and I was in incredible physical shape, but it all came to a sudden stop. I vividly remember the day my mom told me we could no longer afford karate.

I was devastated.

I thought all my dreams and aspirations were thrown out of the window, but my Sensei came up with a solution. 

I was twelve years old and had six years of martial arts experience to my name when I was offered a position as a martial arts instructor to pay off my tuition.

It was the best offer I had ever received.

Training to Teach

Since I started my part-time job, I immediately picked up new skills. As a martial arts instructor, it was my responsibility to teach martial arts for the purposes of self-defense, competition, physical fitness, and self-improvement. Before classes began, I was required to maintain the cleanliness of the training environment by performing custodial duties including mopping, sweeping, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, and more.

Being a martial arts instructor was very different than being a teaching assistant. I was given more tasks, and I was given more opportunities. I had access to the staff room and was invited to instructor only dinners with the heads of the martial arts organization. Through these dinners, I was able to network with other martial arts instructors, learning unique tactics for teaching as well as business strategies.

As a teaching assistant, I mainly worked with younger children. Unlike assistant teaching, I had to instruct the adult class as well. I taught kids as young as four to adults in their early sixties. Teaching adults or even kids my own age had always intimidated me. It felt as if they did not respect me because of my young age. I knew if I wanted their respect, I would have to earn it. 

Whenever I stood in front of the class, I stood tall with confidence. I matured quicker than my classmates at school and spoke eloquently to present the illusion that I was older than I actually was – and it worked. Most people thought I was eighteen or in my mid-twenties when in reality I was only twelve. I never turned down an opportunity to demonstrate my skill. I wanted my students to know I was qualified to teach them. 

When I turned fourteen and I began to work for cash, I earned my very first paycheck. I remember overflowing with joy. I did not waste any time spending my money on a brand-new skateboard. After spending my first paycheck, I decided it would be smart to save most of my hard-earned money towards my education. 

I was earning good money and doing what I loved. I was living the life. At the same time, I was maintaining high academic standards. I was in the top 15% of my graduating class with an unweighted GPA of 3.87. I also enrolled in many AP, honors, advanced, and accelerated classes. I had to learn to manage my time at a young age. Even with my part-time job and rigorous coursework, I still had time to participate in extracurriculars like National Honor Society, CyberPatriot, and orchestra band. 

Part of my job was not only teaching martial arts, but also inspiring students to love martial arts just as I do. To inspire others, I had to be one of the best martial artists. I traveled across the country to compete in high level international karate tournaments and performed very well. 

In time, I gained the love and respect of many students and parents. I am now eighteen years old and have twelve years of martial arts experience, three years of assistant teaching experience, and six years of teaching martial arts. I am proud to say I have left an impact on my students. Often, I will receive heartwarming gifts and drawings from students and praise from adult students and parents.

Dreams of Defense

Having worked over 20 hours a week while still having time to train, participate in clubs, and excel in my academic studies, I have become quite proficient in managing my time. A skill that I know will benefit me in my future endeavors.

Seeing that I taught self-defense to hundreds of students and my interest within the STEM field, I find it fitting that I should go into a career within the defense industry. I plan on earning a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

With this college degree, I would ideally want to work for a defense contracting company such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, or NASA. I could also potentially find a career in one of our military branches. 

By implementing the leadership, communication, and team-building skills I gathered from teaching martial arts, I am certain I will make a great addition to our nation’s defense.

I will be sad when I leave my students for university; however, I will continue to train in martial arts during college while rigorously striving for academic excellence. At the same time, I will find a part-time job to continue the hustle. I just hope the lessons I have taught to my students will carry on as they themselves pursue their goals and aspirations.

About The Author

Nelson Wu plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach Campus).